ACEEE'S GRAPEVINE ONLINE

February 16, 2005

SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON STATE AND NEGOTIATED STANDARDS, DOE LAGS

In the past few months the California Energy Commission has adopted new appliance and equipment efficiency standards on 19 products and the New Jersey legislature has passed a law establishing standards on eight products. Legislation was also reported out of committee in Colorado and Washington. At the same time, ACEEE and other energy-efficiency advocates have reached agreement with manufacturers on consensus federal standards for commercial packaged air conditioners and refrigeration systems and pre-rinse spray valves (used by restaurants to pre-rinse dishes prior to running through a dishwasher). ACEEE and manufacturer trade associations are jointly asking Congress to adopt these consensus standards into law, along with consensus standards on eight other products that were previously negotiated. Unfortunately, DOE has lagged during this period, announcing a two-year delay in the scheduled date for final rules on standards for residential furnaces, commercial air conditioners, and utility and building distribution transformers. DOE also proposed a 19% cut to the standards-program budget in the 2006 fiscal year relative to the current fiscal year. More information on opportunities for new standards can be found in two recent ACEEE reports: Powerful Priorities: Updating Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Furnaces, Commercial Air Conditioners, and Distribution Transformers and Leading the Way: Continued Opportunities for New State Appliance and Equipment Efficiency.

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